Brake-shoe mechanism.



C. Vl ROTE.

BRAKE SHOE MECHANISM. A PPLIcATloN FILED DEc.21.191s.

1,250,515. 'Patented De@.18,1917;

@s Info/ member be brought into engagement with wnivrrrn srarns rATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES V. ROTE, 0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO C. V. ROTEBRAKE SHOE C0., OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BRAKE-SHOE MECHAN ISM.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

kPatented Dec. 18, 191 '7.

Application led December 21, 1916. Serial No. 138,206.

To all whom t may concern:

Y Be it known that I, CHARLES V. ROTE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Brake-ShoeMechanism, of which the following is a specification. l

This' invention relates to brake mechanisms and has particular referenceyto brake shoe devices of the type now generally employed.

Brake shoe mechanisms now in general use comprise a head, a shoe havinga single central keeper and known as the Master Car Builders shoe, and akeyI which extends longitudinally through the head and through thecentral keeper of the shoe so as to lock the latter to the head. Theshoe is usually provided with an indicating mark or danger line, andwhenthe shoe has become wor-neA downto this mark, it `is intended that theshoe be removed. The partially worn shoe is removed from the head anddiscarded While it still possesses utility to a considerable degree.Under the present' practice the shoe is discarded or scrapped while thebody portion thereof is still of substantial thickness in apprehensionthat the samewill become entirelv worn through and the front face of thehead broughtiinto engagement with the periphery of the car wheel, whichwould result in serious damage to the head, and this is rather costly,and this scrap represents an immense loss to railroad companies.

It is the object of this invention to provide means whereby the shoe maybe almost completely worn away and thus eliminate the necessity ofremoving it .from the head and scrapping the same while it still pos.sesses considerable utility as a frictional member. In accordance withmy invention, I provide a relatively inexpensive intermediate memberwhich is adapted to be interposed between the brake head'and the brakeshoe and, preferably, the intermediate member and shoe are securedto thehead by means of a single key.

The intermediate member can be produced at a slight cost and isinexpensive v'as compared to the head, so that if the shoe should becomeworn away, through either inadvert-v enoe or carelessness, and theintermediate the car wheel, resulting in damage to the intermediatemember. little injury would be done, vfor thecost of replacing the wornintermediate member with a new one would be slight. Thus it ispermissible to allow the shoe to be worn down to a greater extent thanis now provided for.

. The intermediate member may be attached to the types of brake headsnow generally employed, and the shoe and intermediate member secured bythe usual key now `used to lock the Master Car Builders shoe to thehead. Thus, if a company having its railroad equipped with old types ofheads, wishes to use my improvement, it is not necessary to scrap theold brakel shoe mechamsms.

A further object of `my invention is to provide means for adjusting theshoe relative to the head so that the shoe throughout its wearing facemay correctly engage the peripherv of they car wheel, although the brakehead is not in correct position relative thereto. Itis found, notinfrequently,that

the head is not properly hung so that when the shoe, or shoe andintermediate member, are secured to the head, the wearing face of theshoe is eccentric to the periphery of the car wheel, and due to thiscondition, one end of the Vshoe will be worn through before the otherend thereof. By the use of the means herein described, the shoe may beadjusted so that its wearing face is concentric tothe periphery of thewheel, although the frontface Vof thebrake head is eccentric;

thereto. V Y

The above and other objects of my invention are obtained in thestructures described in thefollowing specic'ation and illustrated in theaccompanying'drawings, andY wherein- Figure l is a side elevationalviewshowingV a type of brake'head now in general use to which is secured myimproved intermediate member and a brake shoe having a single keeper.l

Fig. 2 is a, rear View of the intermediate member shown in Fig. l with abrake shoe positioned thereon.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a 'modified form of Lmyimproved intermediate member as applied to an old form of brake head andhaving a brake shoe secured thereon.

Fig. 4; is a rear viewV of the intermediate member shown applied in Fig.3, the intermediate member having positioned on its front face a brakeshoe such as is described in an application for Letters Patent filed byme Nov. 20, 1916, Serial No. 132,331.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like parts inthe several views, 10 designates an old form of brake head now ingeneral use, the head having an opening 11 to permit the head to beattached to a brake beam or hanger. 1t is noted, however, that themanner of attaching the brake head to the shoe is immaterial as the sameforms no part of my invention. The brake headis provided with a pair ofcentrally disposed keepers 12 having the usual keyways for the receptionof a tapered key 13 which is adapted to extend longitudinallyvv throughthe head in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The brake shoe comprises a body portion 14; having a centrally disposedlug or keeper 15 which is adapted to be received between the keepers 12on the head. The shoe is provided with guide lugs 16 for a purposeherein described.

1n the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my improved intermediatemember comprises a relatively thin body portion or plate 17 which iscurved to correspond to the curvature of the shoe 1l. The intermediatemember is provided with a central transverse opening 18 which extendsthroughout the width of the member and, for the purpose of reinforcingthe member 17 and securing its opposite ends together, I provide sideflanges 19 which are arched adjacent the opening 18 in the manner shownin Fig. 1. Upon the rear face of the intermediate member and adjacentits opposite ends are seats or lugs 2O which are adapted to engagebetween the bifurcated ends of the brake head in a manner understood bythose familiar with the art. Adjacent the lugs 20l are openings 21 whichare adapted to receive the lugs 16 of the brake shoe.

lWhen it is desired to use the intermediate member illustrated in Figs.1 and 2, the brake shoe is positioned on the front face of theintermediate member with the central keeper 15 protruding through theslot or opening 18 of the intermediate member, and the lugs 16 of theshoe engaging in the apertures 21 of the member. The intermediate memberis then positioned against the front face of the brake head with theflanges or arches 19 positioned to either side of the head. The key 13is then inserted lengthwise of the head through keyways in the keepers12 on the head 10 and the keeper 15 of the shoe so that both theintermediate member and the shoe are secured to the head by the samekey.

The shoe is retained upon the intermediate member until it is almostworn through, and

as has been explained, since the intermediate member is relativelyinexpensive, it is not necessary to remove the shoe when it is butpartially worn. After the shoe is so worn than but little remainsthereof, the key 13 Vis withdrawn and the shoe let is moved transverselyof the intermediate member, this being permissible as the flanges 19 arearched and the opening 18 extends throughout the width of theintermediate member. To insert a new shoe, it is merely necessary toposition the same upon the front face of the intermediate member bybringing the keeper 15 into alinement with the opening 18 of theintermediate member and then moving the shoe transversely into position.This is an important feature for the clearance between the front face ofthe intermediate member and the periphery of the wheel is slight, and byproviding means for inserting the shoe transversely of the intermediatemember it is not necessary to swing the head away from the wheel when itis desired to secure the shoe to the intermediate member. By engagingthe lugs 16 of the shoeJ in the openings 21 of the intermediate memberthe shoe is retained against relative displacement, and, furthermore, inevent that the shoe should be broken, the lugs would ,prevent thevbroken parts from slipping down between the intermediate member and thecar wheel and falling onto the track. I

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and et, theintermediate member comprises a skeleton pla-te 22 provided with acentral transverse opening 23 adapted 'to receive the keeper 15 oftheold form of brake shoe, as shown in Fig. 3. The intermediate member isalso provided with a pair of spaced-apart slots 24C adapted to receive,as shown in Fig. il, the spaced-apart keepers 25 of my improved brakeshoe 25, which brake shoe is shown and described in Letters Patent, No.1,213,419, granted to me January 23, 1917, and application for LettersPatent Serial No. 132,331, filed by me Nov. 20, 1916` Along one side ofthe intermediate member is an upstanding iange 26 having spaced-apartapertures 27 which are adapted to receive the blades 28 of a retainingkey 29. The intermediate member 22 is provided with transverse arches 30which are spaced-apart so as to receive the keepers 12 and which formkeyways for the reception of the key 13 as shown in Fig. 3. Locatedbetween the arches 30 and on either side of the opening 23 are a pair ofseats 31 enw gaging against the keepers 12 of the head when the memberis positioned'thereon. Adjacent the openingl 23 and securing theopposite ends of the plate 22 together are flanges or bridges 19 whichmay be arched as are the bridges 19 in the previous embodiment.

l/Vhen the intermediate member shown in the second embodiment of myinvention is employed, the intermediate member 22 is positioned againstthe front face of the brake head 10 with the keepers 12 of the brakehead positioned between vthe arches or keepers 30 of the intermediatemember, and in this position the keepers 12 are in engagement or restupon the seats 31 of the intermediate member. The lV aster Car Buildersshoe, when it is desired to use the same, is then positioned against thefront face of the intermediate member with the keeper 15 of the shoeengaging in the transverse opening 23 ofr the intermediate member, andbetween the lugs 12 of the brake head. After the parts are in thisposition, the key 13 is inserted longitudinally of the headthrough thekeepers 80, 12 and 15, of the intermediate member, brake head and brakeshoe, respectively, so that the parts are securely fastened againstrelative displacement.

If it is desired to use the type of4 brake shoe 25 described in myaforesaid applications, and shown in Fig. l of the drawings, theintermediate member 22 is secured to the brake head by means of the key13 and the brake shoe 25 is then positioned against the front face ofthe intermediate member with the keepers 2 5 of the brake shoe engagingin the slots 24 of the intermediate member. The blades 2S of the key 29arelhen inserted in the apertures 27 of the flange 26 and movedtransversely of the shoe so that they will extend into and through thekeyways of the keepers 25. Y

1t will be noted that with the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4,either the old type of Master Car Builders shoe may 'be employed incombination with the intermediate mem-I ber 22, in which case a singlekey is employed to lock the intermediate member and the shoe to thehead, or the type of shoe described in my aforesaid applications may beseparately1 secured to the intermediate member by means of the key 29inserted transversely of the intermediate member.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown means for adjusting the shoe relativelyto the head, this means comprising a T-shaped shim plate 32. Thecross-member or head of the T- plate is adapted to rest upon the seats31 of the intermediate member 22, and if a swellback shoe, suoli as isshown in Fig. 4: is used. the long leg of the T rests upon the rear faceof the brake shoe 25. As seen from Fig. 3, the shim is adapted to liebetween the keepers 12 of the brake head and the seats 31 on theintermediate member 22, and with this construction, one end of the shoeis thrown farther away from the head than the other end. When it isfound that the brake head is eccentric to the shoe, the shim plate 32 ispositioned upon those seats 31 of the intermediate member nearest theend of the head which is farther from the periphery of the car wheel.rlhus that end of the brake shoe which would be farthest from theperiphery of the wheel, if the shim plate were notemployed, is blockedupor away from the head so that the front face of the shoe is concentricte the car wheel periphery.

What l claim is hln a brake shoe mechanism, a brake head, a brake shoe,an intermediate member interposed between the head and shoe, and a keyextending longitudinally through the head for securing both the shoe andthe intermediate member to the head.

2. In a brake shoe mechanism, a head having transversekeepers, a shoehaving a transverse keeper, an intermediate member interposed betweenthe shoe and the head, and a key adapted to be inserted longitudinallyof the head through the keepers of said shoe and head.

3. 1n a brake shoe mechanism, a brake head having transverse keepers, abrake shoe having a transverse keeper, an intermediate member interposedbetween the head and the shoe and having an opening for the reception ofsaid keeper on said shoe, and a key extending' longitudinally of thehead through the keepers on the head and shoe for securing both the shoeand the intermediate member to the head.

p 4. In a brake shoe mechanism, a head having transverse keepers, a shoehaving a transversekeeper, an intermediate member adapted to beinterposed between the head and the shoe and having transverse keepers,said intermediate member also having an opening for the reception of thekeeper of said shoe, and a key extending longitudinally of the headthrough said keepers on the shoe, intermediate member and head forsecuring both the shoe and the intermediate member to the head.

5. In a brake shoe mechanism, a head having` transverse keepers, a shoehaving a transverse keeper, and an intermediate member adapted to beinterposed between the head and the shoe and having transverse keepersand an opening for the reception of said keeper on the shoe, saidintermediate member' also having openings through its body portion andkeyways along one side thereof, and a key for securing said shoe andintermediate member to said head.

6. An intermediate member for brake shoe mechanisms comprising a platehaving a centrally disposed opening, an opening located on either sideof said centrally disposed opening, and a pair of arches constitutingkeyways located at either side of the central opening, said intermediatemember also having keyways disposed at one side thereof.

7 An intermediate member for brake shoe mechanisms comprising a platehaving a centrally disposed opening, seats disposed on either side ofsaid centrally disposed opening and arches constituting keyWays adjacentsaid seats, said plate also having` an opening in its body portion ateach side of said centrally disposed opening, and key- Ways adjacenteach of said second-mentioned openings.

8. ln a brake shoe mechanism, a. brake head, a brake shoe, anintermediate member interposed between the head and the shoe and aT-shaped shim plate positioned between the intermediate member and thehead Yfor blocking one end or' the shoe from the head.

9. ln a brake shoe mechanism, a head having a pair of keepers, a brakeshoe, an in termediate member interposed between the head and the shoeand having seats adapted to engage against the keepers of said head, anda shim plate interposed between one of the keepers of the head and itscorresponding seats on the intermediate member to block one end of saidshoe from the head.

l0. A brake shoe mechanism comprising a head having a pair of keepers, abrake shoe havin-g a keeper adapted to be inserted between the keepersof said head, an intermediate member having an opening for the receptionof said keeper on the shoe, and a key extending longitudinally of thehead through the keepers on said intermediate member and shoe, saidintermediate member also having flanges along either side thereofadapted to engage on the opposite sides of said head.

1l. In a brake shoe mechanism, a head having` a pair of keepers, a brakeshoe having a keeper, and an intermediate member having a centralopening extending through` out its width, said intermediate member alsohaving a bridge or arch adjacent said open ing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES V. ROTE.

l/Vitnesses H. EDGAR SHERTS, NELLIE C. SHA1.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

